How better to get ready for Summer than making a pair of shorts?
I had some heavy denim in my stash I bought at the thrift store. I was thinking a pair of jeans, but after measuring the fabric I decided I had only enough to make shorts.
I washed and dried the material twice. Hopefully that will be enough shrinkage. I read online some people wash denim up to five times before cutting out the pattern.
I am using Simplicity 1948 in size 36, which is waist 30". This is a pants pattern, but I have made it before as shorts. I used lightweight denim. Hard to believe it has been two years since making these.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbGRONZHr8vyF2PzQKm8Dcw_95zSzT8lABnSpFG1F7oCmvaTI_3b6pvxvRP_2xKSKP4U0CqCuvz4TcVvcE3mtuBeaGxCnaVmFoJXoKeDntv8eZWXVhiXtdU6W9gMa2o-hjM3f2zih4Rz2/s1600/js.jpg) |
Joe's shorts made 2013 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgxH_yxOT4HhoqFjzVLtCaqgZzz3nak4uJIOvYC1OFM6JakyJVV4-khjDXXF8CaVpO1-U1UcKazZ7pQ-r3cgCInErOP9Q2KxEPRXKdn_5c-roQzDf9fsOTY41rL-nOmLpAkXvWUgVRcwT/s1600/ws.jpg) |
My Mod shorts made 2013 |
So this will be different because I am using heavy denim and top stitching with denim thread. I bought size 14 needles, which seem to work fine for the sewing, but when I tried top stitching, the machine skipped some stitches. So I put in a size 16 needle and tried again. This time the stitching looked good.
This is also a good test for my Singer 7470. It has been plowing through the denim with no problem. I used three different feet to top stitch the pockets with three stitches to get the stitching straight. The standard foot and two different blind-stitch feet and a seam guide.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPIZc3bsLwtgwpAbk8Ws3t3WOLH6lsefZQogTtJ6MGiTlsdP6NdirLs6uDEZPjjSS3XPvwE4hG3TKIM5bLDHWyNjSwba_e3K0AhrlvjaF0noe4JNgve5doSmiR9Bpgznhm0R97_vuo3eU/s1600/shorts6.jpeg) |
Singer 7470 |
I do think the pockets came out nice. I used a french-seam for the pocket bottom for a more finished look. Plus I couldn't help from using a decorative stitch too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrvBOnU2Tw0al2w_OxykhXrq_OEjtzRjcuHtiIu61hlKDHxRXCdWiAp98OKMaTIzrbpQAGLPB9AN7mUQJq1AdP6meh1rNFGoQSnfxGF-ForqT5i0Kwwh3cD1yLHXX3Mina42DZd4qO9Ca/s1600/shorts1.jpg) |
Front |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrrKRoqvSVbLTv16-4AvXuW33i8_DnLJW0EoQk72_fi81BmZR2umy57TwV8DfS6WssdhLF897K8q11nPgOJDQkWUPc772TNIFmOPXsxiqGbp01k6Glyux0uUlw3wNUzx-RmeCNZ7EyK7Q/s1600/shorts2.jpeg) |
Pocket Close Up |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkFctEuVHiDOt9nY9KzLj_bK-CdAuPG4sEwBDlWG8Wu9gNmmvE9Rf1MwH3nWRn7yiYWyLxRBTUR8ZyaET1FEm7cyl7jopUvbL0YiAYqNs121JZEfK3WuRz7bPXqWNUtF2qGXUJzCbvjP9/s1600/shorts5.jpeg) |
Pocket Interior |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKWjRGZ7AbZfMZrbodq0s9JAr7RIUA35AqR_0usRc0qfKS2YRSXKx8tzCHKzk03rNW3V7-tADpLw_qVLlZsz5ktkK2F0nkk6DanOxhg2K-zDyKmbv_9B8Ed8YSm-wbgOnxnjhTogUOLlr/s1600/shorts3.jpeg) |
Pocket Inside |
The zipper is up next.
Thanks for stopping.